Pakistan Travel Information

Pakistan, officially Islamic Republic of Pakistan, republic in South Asia, marking the area where South Asia converges with Southwest Asia and Central Asia. The capital of Pakistan is Islamabad; Karachi is the country’s largest city.Pakistan lies South Asia, Pakistan shares an eastern border with India and a north-eastern border with China Pakistan present some of Asia’s most magnificent landscapes as it stretches from the Arabian Sea, its southern border, to some of the world’s most spectacular mountain ranges in the north. Pakistan is also home to sites that date back to word’s earliest settlements rivaling those of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Pakistan's population of 128 million is one of the fastest-growing in Asia. The two largest ethnic groups are the Punjabis, an Indo-Aryan people who dominate political and business life, and the Pashtuns, who work mainly as herders and farmers. The official language is Urdu, and English is used extensively in business. Traveling to Pakistan offers most adventures package trip , Trekking and Hiking holidays, expedition , religious and cultural tour , lush valley and beautiful landscape for adventure seekers and nature enthusiastic with amazing life time experience.

The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved. A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998.Pakistan comprises four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, North West Frontier and Baluchistan. Its varied topography is characterized by the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges in the north, the sparse Baluchistan plateau in the west, the barren deserts of Sindh in the centre and the alluvial plains of Punjab in the east. The 2500km Indus River flows from Tibet in the North, towards the Arabian Sea in the extreme south. It courses right through the country's fertile alluvial plains, which constitute a third of the country's land. Most of the nation's cash crops such as cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane come from this rich and well-irrigated area. Pakistan has three seasons: cool (October through February); hot (March through June); and wet (July through September) For Pakistan traveling there are several option either overland journeys with its bounder countries India , Srilnaka and Bhutan or travel by flight from all over the world. Pakistan National flight -Pakistan International Airline is operated for Pakistan travelers.

Pakistan travel general information

Country Name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Capital: Islamabad

Location: It is bounded by Iran in the west, Afghanistan in the north-west, India in the east and south east and Arabian Sea in the south

Total Area: 796,095 square kilometers

Population: 132.35 million, 162,420,000 (1998)

Traveling in Pakistan By Air:
More than 25 airlines fly to Pakistan from over 40 countries. Most of the flights arrive at Karachi, but PIA, British Airways, Emirates, Saudia and China Xinjiang Airlines fly direct to the twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. PIA, Indian airlines, Saudia and Thai Airways fly direct to Lahore. Pakistan International (PIA) has direct flights from the main Mediterranean and European cities, as well as from New York, Toronto and Nairobi. It also runs a Far East Network from Tokyo, Beijing, Jakarta, Singapur, Kuala Lampur and Bangkok. PIA has also flights to Tashkent from Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi while another Pakistani Airline, Aero Asia has a weekly flight between Karachi, Bishkek and Dubai.

Traveling in Pakistan By Land :

From China:
The Khunjrab Pass is open from 1st May to 31st October for groups and to 15th November for individual tourists. Customs, immigration post shall remain open daily from 08:30 to 11:00 for outgoing travelers and upto 16:00 for incoming tourists. Travel time from Sost to Taxkurgan is 05hrs (220 kms). The Chinese border post, Taxkurgan is open 12:00 noon to 14:00 for outgoing tourists and upto 19:00 for incoming travelers.

From India:
Wagha is the only Land border open between Pakistan and India. The Wagha border post open daily for foreigners; summer (18 April to 15 October) 08:30 to 14:30 hrs and winter (16th October to 15th April) 09:00 to 15:00 hrs. Minibus No. 12 leaves from outside Lahore Railway Station for Wagha every fifteen minutes, cost approximately US $ 0.20 per person. Taxi shall charge around US $ 8 for this half an hour journey.

Climate:
Tropical Climatically, Pakistan enjoys a considerable measure of variety. North and north western high mountainous ranges are extremely cold in winter while the summer months of April to September are very pleasant. The plains of the Indus valley are extremely hot in summer with cold and dry weather in winter. The coastal strip in the South has a moderate climate. There is a general deficiency of rainfall. In the plains annual average ranges from 16 centimeters in the northern parts of lower Indus plain to 120 centimeters in the Himalayan region. Rains are monsoonal in origin and fall late in summers. Due to the rainfall and high diurnal range of temperature, humidity is comparatively low.

Religion:
Religiously Pakistan is an Islamic country where 96.28 % of population prays towards Makkah. Christians are 1.95% of the population whereas Hindus are 1.60% and schedule Hindus represent 0.25%. Qadiyanis have relatively small community with only 0.22% representing the new religion. Others are 0.07% which includes Sikhs and other religious communities.

Language:
Urdu is the national language and is used as a medium of understanding throughout the country. Pakistan is culturally divided into four bilingual provinces. Punjabi is spoken in the Punjab, Sindhi in Sindh, Pashto in NWFP, and Balochi in Balochistan.